Headset system

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a reproduction-receiver part (WE) for use in a headset system, in which means are provided for wireless reception of audio signals from a mobile radio telephone network and a loudspeaker for acoustic reproduction of said signals. The invention also relates to a receiver-transmitter part (AS) for use in a radiotelephone system in which means are exclusively provided for wireless transmission of audio signals in a mobile radiotelephone network and a microphone for the acoustic reception thereof.

[0001] The invention relates to a radio headset system as well as to a handshake procedure for it.

[0002] Radio headset systems are also known as radio headsets or headsets. They allow a conversation to be held with a communicating party whereby the hands are free for other activities. Radio headsets are a simple version of handsfree devices.

[0003] The radio headset systems are generally wired or connected wirelessly to a communication terminal. The terminal can be a fixed network telephone, a mobile phone in accordance with the GSM standard or with one of the future standards, as well as a cordless telephone.

[0004] The object of the invention is to improve the handling of radio headset systems.

[0005] In accordance with the invention this object is achieved for a reproduction and receive part by the features of claim 1, for an acceptance and send part by the features of claim 2, for a radio headset system by the features of claim 3 and handshake procedures for a radio headset system by the features of claim 4.

[0006] The radio headset system is subdivided in accordance with the invention into a reproduction and receive part and an acceptance and send part which reduces the size of the in-ear headphone system so that it is practically imperceptible in its environment. With the reproduction and receive part in accordance with the invention the lack of a send stage means that the radiation burden near the head is extremely small.

[0007] The invention is described below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing. The figures show

[0008]FIG. 1 the radio headset system in accordance with the invention with a reproduction and receive part and an acceptance and send part, and

[0009]FIG. 2 an alternative for the radio headset system.

[0010] The radio headset system in accordance with the invention shown in FIG. 1 essentially consists of a reproduction and receive part WE and an acceptance and send part AS.

[0011] The reproduction and receive part WE features a receiving device for the digital audio signals. The receive part WE is connected directly via a mobile radio network or a mobile communication network to a radio base station. A loudspeaker is also provided for reproduction of the audio signals. The electronic and electrical components such as battery, receive antenna, control facilities and converters are not shown explicitly in the figure and are of secondary importance for the invention.

[0012] The reproduction and receive part WE only needs a comparatively small battery to operate, since only one receive device has to be operated. The reproduction and receive part WE can be worn like a hearing aid, directly on or in the ear.

[0013] The acceptance and send part AS features a microphone to accept the acoustic audio signals as well as a send part for forwarding them via a mobile radio network to a radio base station. Here too the electrical and electronic components such as battery, antenna, controller, send stage and converter facilities are of secondary importance for the invention and are not shown explicitly in the figure.

[0014] The acceptance and send part AS can be a self-contained device which is worn on the wrist like a wristwatch for example. The send part AS can however also be integrated into other devices, such as for example a palmtop or similar.

[0015] With mobile telephones, be they using the GSM standard or the DECT standard, the connection between the mobile device and the base station is monitored. What are known as handshake signals are exchanged between the two units for this purpose. With a corresponding number of errors in these signals, that is with a bad communications link, a notification signal is sent to the terminal and output there.

[0016] With the radio headset system in accordance with the invention there are two possible alternatives for this.

[0017] In a first variant, which is preferably employed in cordless telephones, handshake signals are sent directly from the radio base station to the reproduction and receive part WE. This part performs the signaling and gives an audible notification if necessary.

[0018] With a second variant the handshake signals are exchanged between the base station and the acceptance and send part AS. In the case of a bad connection a corresponding notification can then be inserted into the audio data stream, starting out from the base station. This is then received by the-reproduction and receive part WE and output acoustically.

[0019] With an embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 2 the acceptance and send part AS also receives audio signals from the mobile communication network. These are then forwarded via a short- range air interface, for example Bluetooth, to the reproduction and receive part WE. The send part AS is then a normal mobile radio device, for which the acoustic reproduction converter is missing or is switched off.

[0020] With this embodiment the handshake signals are exchanged between the acceptance and send part AS and the reproduction and receive part WE. A bad connection is then notified by a message inserted into the audio data stream by the send part AS to the receive part WE. 

1. Reproduction and receive part (WE) for use in a radio headset system, In which there is provision for means for only wireless reception of audio signals from a mobile radio network and a loudspeaker for their acoustic reproduction.
 2. Acceptance and send part (AS) for use in a radio headset system, In which there is provision for means for only wireless sending of audio signals from a mobile radio network and a microphone for their acoustic reception.
 3. Radio headset system consisting of a reproduction and receive part (WE) according to claim 1 and an acceptance and send part (AS) in accordance with claim
 2. 4. Handshake procedure for a radio headset system in accordance with claim 3, in which the handshake signals are given directly to the reproduction and receive part (WE) by a base station, whereby an appropriate acoustic message is output to the latter.
 5. Handshake procedure in accordance with claim 3, in which the handshake signals are exchanged between the radio base station and the acceptance and send part (AS), whereby at the reproduction and receive part (WE) an appropriate acoustic message will be output.
 6. Reproduction and receive part (WE) for use in a radio headset system, in which means are only provided for the wireless receipt of audio signals and a loudspeaker for their acoustic reproduction. 